So many of our leaders and role models today are influenced deeply by money and corporations. So many of our politicians put corporate interests over what’s best for the people they are elected to serve. Celebrities are paid vast sums of money to sell their fans on stuff they don’t really need. Social media “influencers” have pages that are as much about products as they are about their life or what their page claims to be about.

We live in a world where we are constantly inundated with ads to buy, buy, buy. We are told that we’ll be happier with more stuff. We’ll be happier with luxurious items. Love, sex, and success will come to us if we can attain a certain image through material items.

I am not running for office. I don’t work for the government. But I do consider myself a public servant. I have designed my life to be of service to the people of my nation and the people of the world. As an American citizen, I am dedicated to using my life to improve the lives of those around me. I’ve watched our “public servants” over the last couple of decades, and I’ve learned a lot. From some, I have learned who I want to be. From others, I have learned who I don’t want to be.

I have put countless hours of thought into how I can mold myself to be of best service to my country and the world. And I have put far more hours into solid action, becoming the human I want to be, and leading by a positive example to truly be of service.

I feel today, just before midterm elections 2018, is a timely day to share my personal commitments as a public servant to my nation and the world.

It’s hard to say this publicly, but I have a problem. The problem is my relationship to my computer and online devices. It’s not so much the devices though, it’s the connection they create to the online world. I’ve had this problem for a while now. I’m thinking perhaps about seven years. I’m 32 years old and I look back to the last time I can remember having a consistent healthy relationship with my devices. I know in college from 2005-2009 it was pretty healthy. Social media wasn’t remotely the same back then as it is today so it was a lot easier. When I traveled the world in 2010 I remember logging in to write my blog, send emails, do research, and spend time on social media, but I’d log off for days at a time and head into the jungle. Then there’s the grey area between 2011-2013. I had a better relationship with my computer then I’m pretty sure, so I’m guessing the problem really got bad in 2013. That was when my first eco-adventure began and when I really started blogging, using social media for a bigger purpose, and getting involved in the media.

I am out of balance. I am frustrated. I am unhappy at points throughout the day.

When I went away to Wisconsin I was revitalized and rejuvenated. I swam in clean and cold bodies of water daily. I exercised and stretched. I walked slowly to where I needed to go. I prioritized eating. I took midday naps. I observed my simple surroundings. I was not overwhelmed with work. I had gained some balance back into my life. It felt really good.

How I built my tiny house for under $1,500 using nearly 100% repurposed materials while creating only 30 pounds of trash.

The tiny house movement has caught on like a wildfire over the last decade, and there’s a lot of positivity coming out if it. I’m very excited about tiny houses and see them as a very useful tool in working towards a more sustainable and just world. I lived in a 50 sq. ft. tiny house in San Diego in 2015-2016. I’ve produced videos about tiny houses to spread the movement through my social media. I’ve visited tiny houses around the United States and in a few countries, and I have even been to a tiny house festival. I’ve made friends with the creators of some of the biggest tiny house pages. Now, I’ve built my first tiny house. Needless to say, I really love tiny houses and am very excited about them. And I’ve become fairly knowledgeable on them.

What’s above me is a couple of pear trees. What’s surrounding me is hundreds of pears going to waste on the sidewalk. So today, I’m going to show you how to clean up your community, feed some people in need, and have yourself a tasty treat all at the same time.